I came across this while doing some research for my current day job. It's from the Labor Clarion, a weekly San Franciso labor newpaper. This was in the Musician's Union column of November 24, 1916:
"Patrons of the 'Modesto Winter Gardens' found it impossible to dance to the music furnished by a $1500 piano purchased from the Photo Players Sales Co., according to an action filed in the Superior Court here by Mildreth Bros., owners of the resort. They declare it was represented to them that the piano would make a regular orchestra ashamed of itself. On the contrary, 'the piano gave forth rasping, metallic, tin-panning tones devoid of music and time,' says their complaint. They want their money back."
I really like the phrase, "rasping, metallic, tin-panning tones devoid of music and time." Maybe I'll use it in a music review one of these days.
